Guatemala Presentation

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Transcript of Guatemala Presentation

Civilian Defense PatrolsConscripted localsForced to expose family, neighbors Guatemala Guatemala: Economics A brief overview of U.S. Intervention and Regional and International Peace Efforts in Guatemala before, during, and after conflict

Remittances: top recipient in Central America = 1/5 GDP Peace and Truth December, 1996 - Peace Agreements 1997 - Truth Commission 200,000 killed83% of victims were Mayan17% were Ladino State Forces were directly responsible for 93% of all documented violence Consisted of members from variety of backgrounds (academic, local citizens, etc.) Conducted 7,200 interviews with 11,000 people http://www.usip.org/publications/truth-commission-guatemala Commission Recommendations Very weakNot allowed publish names of anyone directly responsibleDid not call for prosecutionOnly financial reparations recommended were in the form of monuments and parksEncouraged a culture of mutual respect http://www.usip.org/publications/truth-commission-guatemala International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala Roles of the Commission: Investigate the existence of illegal forces in the country that threaten human rightsHelp build legal capacity to investigate past offenders and prosecute themPrepare the government to take on these responsibilities once the CICIG mandate expires Was set to expire in 2009, but has been extended In 2009, the first military officer ever was convicted for the disappearance of peasants. Poor Results Guatemala is still suffering from weak institutions and is very dangerous.

Today, the murder rate is actually higher than during the civil war. Mexican drug cartels have moved into Guatemala in order to control drug trade into South America.

Carlos Castresana, the leader of CICIG, resigned in 2010 and explained that the government had not kept its promise to support the CICIG's work and reform the justice system http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/latin-america-caribbean/guatemala/033-guatemala-squeezed-between-crime-and-impunity.aspx Guatemala: Policy Recommendations Improve tax collection capabilities Show neighboring countries that they have much to gain from working together to address the drug trade "The impact of forced liberalizations, deregulations and privatizations of national economies on the authority of the failing state is quite clear."

- Ekhardt (2006), pp. 26 Conflict Theory: Shaping the Guatemalan Civil War in the Cold War Contest The Cold War ushered in a new era of conflict that was both international in influence and increasingly internalized in its destruction. Old Wars (Up to and including WWII)Modern states as opposing actorsState-controlled hierarchical armies New Wars (Guerrilla movements)Erosion of the stateWaged internally and with heavy costs in spillover effectsNon-state actorsViolence directed at civilians CIA Justification for the Overthrow of Arbenz "Following fall of Dictator Ubico in 1944, pendulum swung far to left and Guatemala under left-wing leader Arevalo 1944 to 1951 when Arbenz took over. Arbenz able army officer but slowly came under complete influence of hard-core Communists, particular Fortuny, Pellecer, Gutierrez, and others who trained in Communist school, frequent visitors to Moscow and satellites. [Prague School]... Communists took over labor unions, radio, major press organs, and dominated Indian peasantry who had little interest in Marx." Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79-01025A, Box 151, Folder 2. No classification marking. A covering memorandum to the Director of Central Intelligence from Tracy Barnes listed the participants scheduled to attend the White House briefing on July 29. <history.state.gov> Jacobo Arbenz El presidente derrocado en 1954 por la CIA era llamado El Soldado del Pueblo

The president, overthrown in 1954 by the CIA, is known as "The Soldier of the People" Source: http://colarebo.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/guatemala-inicia-desagravio-a-la-memoria-de-jacobo-arbenz/ United States Supports Violence by State Army in Guatemala Supported by U.S., Guatemala's army was the "first modern counterinsurgency military in Latin America"U.S. Department of State pressured U.S. newspapers not to report the full brutality of massacres occurring Source: Cleary, Edward L. (2001). Examining Guatemalan Process of Violence and Peace. Latin American Research Review The five Central American presidents met in May, 1986 and “took their fate into their own hands”

First regional meeting of its kind in over a decadeEsquipulas II was limited in effect in part by continued U.S. aid to the Contras

At the same time and International Court of Justice case was brought against the United States for continuing military aid to the Contras in Nicaragua which resulted in a UN Resolution to halt U.S. military aid to the Contras

Source: Oliver, Johanna (1999). The Esquipulas Process: A Central American Paradigm for Resolving RegionalConflict. Ethnic Studies Report, Vol. XVII, No. 2, July 1999 Instability and Peace Efforts in Central AmericaEsquipulas I Meeting of 1986 & Esquipulas II Peace Accord of 1987 Source: Government of Guatemala, http://www.coha.org/reflecting-on-esquipulas-at-25-while-undoing-a-grave-injustice-to-vinicio-cerezo-2/ The Oslo Initiative, 1993Lutheran World Federation supports peace talks with close ties to U.S. and Scandinavian churches

The purpose was to perform verification and institution-building activitiesMore than 250 specialists sent to Guatemala

Demilitarization process aided by international actors including the European Union, USAID, OAS and United Nations programs and agencies

Source: United Nations Peacekeeping Operations <http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/minuguabackgr.html> United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) SOURCE: UN verifies agreement on ceasefire in Guatemala, http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=21753 "MINUGUA stands as a successful example of UN peace-building, with valuable lessons for operations in other parts of the world."

The empire left behind several indigenous and autonomous kingdoms that preserved the Mayan culture GuerillasVarious resistance groupsPoorly trained and equipped Operation "Ceniza" All Sides ResponsibleArmy/CDPs responsible for 93% of documented atrocities, 4% from guerillasUse of rape, maiming, infanticide, torture, kidnapping, terror, extrajudicial killingsRecruitment of child soldiers on both sides of conflict 54% of population below poverty line Agriculture provides livelihood to over 50% of the population Key exports:CoffeeBananasSugar Central American Free Trade AgreementJuly 2006: Increased U.S. investment in the export sectorTariff and distance advantage over Asian competitorsReduced country risk= increased attractiveness Economy is very sensitive to international prices .28% of farm owners had 45% of farms 76% of owners had 9.85% of the farms 1952 Agrarian Reform under Arbenz Goal to reduce amount of unused land "Pro-Communist" Gov't farmland and private holdings made available to landless Expropriation of UFCO (know as El Pulpo) lands lead to US-sponsored coup Armas Approach Rural Development Progrm Redistribution to be based on development of agricultural sector Settlement process, Credit, Extension services in hopes of economic viability Re-appropriation of lands to private industry At one time, largest landholderU.S. government involvement in land disputesU.S. backed anti-communist coup of ArbenzEconomic gains from Ubico's appropriationComplicit with Guatemalan gov't to repress labor movements Internal displacement Peace Accords: Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects Democratic participation and consensus-buildingInclusivity: participation of women, all social classesIncrease in social services: Goal annual GDP growth >6%Encouragement of foreign and national investments Source: http://www.usip.org/files/file/resources/collections/peace_agreements/guat_960506.pdf Militants Corrupt Politics 2000 - Alfonso Portillo become first democratically elected President since the Peace AccordsWas seen as a "strong" leader (admitted killing two people in Mexico)Claimed he wanted to decentralize the national government and give more authority to local governmentsMany charges of corruption during his term (2000 - 2004)Recently extradited to U.S. to stand trial for embezzling more than $70 million of Guatemalan funds through U.S. banks However, agriculture is only 13% of the GDP Human Development Indicator: 131 out of 187 Collier Disband the Kaibiles and purge intelligence services Source: Global Forces and Regime Change: Guatemala in the Central American Context John A. Booth. Journal of Inter-american Studies and World Affairs, Vol. 42, No. 4, Globalization and Democratization in Guatemala (Winter, 2000), pp. 70 Source: http://www.migrationinformation.org/feature/display.cfm?ID=392 "Frightened people flee thier homes." "Civil war is development in reverse." Engage in anti-corruption initiatives in ministries

Incorporate small-plot agriculture into national economic policy

Improve infrastructure: roads, transport, IT to support tourism and tele-comm based business

Reform curricula to promote workforce development

Foster through government subsidies and tax incentives more productive economic sectors

Pursue the prosecution of war criminals, past and present Payments to the Victims Program to pay families of victims began in 2003